Paging Sen. Pacquiao: Mr Roach calling, calling
By Recah Trinidad
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 01 Mar 2018
IN a report by the eminent Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times, it was asked if Freddie Roach has been fired as trainer of Filipino world boxing legend Manny Pacquiao.
The same report wondered if Pacquiao?s boyhood ally and longtime Roach deputy Buboy Fernandez has been promoted to fulltime trainer.
Needless to say, the Hall-of-Fame boxing coach chiefly credited with charting Pacquiao?s path to boxing superstardom, is at a loss.
**
Roach told Pugmire he has called Pacquiao at least five times. He got no reply.
Maybe he has changed his phone number, Roach wondered.
Pacquiao was last seen with Roach in Brisbane last July. The scene was inside the dugout, after Pacquiao had lost his WBO welterweight crown to Australian Jeff Horn.
**
Based on an eyewitness account, the two prominent world boxing figures failed to communicate.
Roach was left to cool his heels, while Pacquiao busied himself in front of the mirror, attending to his hairdo.
It was a very awkward situation for both.
**
It took long, but the rift was more or less confirmed following Roach?s claim of Pacquiao?s continued disregard.
Veteran promoter Bob Arum, and all those involved with the Pacquiao career, have remained puzzled.
Did this start with Roach?s obvious mishandling of the crucial situation when he kept calling for a knockout in the championship rounds against Horn?
**
So who faulted?
Pacquiao would cry he had been set-up following the monumental loss to Horn.
There were claims Roach failed to demand attention from the fight referee while Horn proceeded to foul and manhandle Pacquiao during the championship.
**
There was nothing clear. But there?s a growing possibility Pacquiao would not be seeing action in the April 14 card Top Rank has prepared for him.
Pacquiao has not communicated with Arum after it was announced he has been billed to fight former world champion Mike Alvarado. Pacquiao said he would rather clash with Argentine punching machine Lucas Matthysse.
Latest word has it that Arum might end up tapping IBF super flyweight Jerwin Ancajas to fight in the co-feature to the Horn title defense against the unbeaten sensation Terence Crawford.
Photo: Pacquiao and Roach during happier times.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Recah Trinidad.
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